Chapter 289: Minato: I Also Want to Assassinate the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning!
Chapter 289: Minato: I Also Want to Assassinate the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning!
The location of Yunming City was chosen similarly to Kumogakure. Situated in an open expanse surrounded by towering peaks, its buildings were constructed against the mountains, extending skyward with an imposing grandeur.
Standing atop the inner wall, which was built even taller than the surrounding peaks, one could gaze down and witness a breathtaking sight—mountains like blades, mist like banners, an awe-inspiring view.
However, as Uchiha Ci followed Namikaze Minato into the city, he quickly realized that the reality was far from the picturesque scenery that might inspire a poetic three-hundred-word description.
The residents of Yunming City mostly looked exhausted, their bodies thin and frail, their faces clouded with worry. They walked with their heads down, as if contemplating whether paying the fuel tax or waiting for gas prices to drop would be the better choice—like overworked corporate employees crushed by financial burdens.
Even as Uchiha Ci and Namikaze Minato moved through the streets wearing wide-brimmed hats and black cloaks, their mysterious attire practically screaming, We're definitely terrorists, no one spared them a second glance.
Observing this scene, Uchiha Ci couldn't help but sigh.
The Land of Lightning was already a high-altitude region, yet this city's architecture still clung to the mountains instead of making use of the flatlands below. Walking through it gave him an eerie sense of déjà vu—like returning to the mountain city of his past life. Every few steps led to a steep slope, and if one didn't feel exhausted traversing this place, that would truly be a miracle.
Beside him, Namikaze Minato mistakenly thought Uchiha Ci was sympathizing with the plight of the civilians. After glancing around, Minato let out a soft sigh and said:
"The Land of Lightning is different from our Land of Fire. This country values military strength and thrives on conflict. It has been waging wars for years, plundering others to sustain its economy. To maintain a strong military, the government imposes extremely high taxes, which is why…"
"Values military strength and thrives on conflict?" Uchiha Ci sneered, watching an elderly man struggle up the mountain with a basket of coal on his back, heading toward a luxurious mansion at the peak. So this is what they call valuing military strength and conflict—
Not just fighting against the heavens, the earth, and other nations' shinobi, but even oppressing their own people.
And what has all this fighting achieved? Other than strengthening Kumogakure's military, where has the rest of the wealth gone?
Why were the buildings atop the mountains so lavishly constructed? Why did some people ride palanquins up to those extravagant peaks?
Was this some kind of elite tourism service?
Of course, maybe the harsh environment and national policies played a role, but Uchiha Ci found the situation increasingly frustrating.
Among the Five Great Nations, the Land of Lightning had the most advanced technology—they could even build chakra cannons, a weapon of a completely different era. Yet their civilians were still stuck using manual labor to transport resources, while the nobles indulged in archaic luxuries.
The world shouldn't be like this.
These nobles should have their souls sucked into the gladiatorial arenas built by Oyashiro En, where they could wave their money around and be squeezed dry in Roman-style bloodsport!
What the hell is this mess?
Of course, Uchiha Ci was just ranting internally. This had nothing to do with a mere traveler like him.
"Let's go."
Losing interest in the discussion, Uchiha Ci followed Minato out of the bustling inner city. They crossed mountains and traversed suspension bridges that linked the peaks. As the sky darkened and the rumbling of thunder above the clouds grew louder, they finally arrived at a dilapidated building with a Baroque-style design.
"What is this place?"
Uchiha Ci tilted his head, scrutinizing the abandoned structure, which seemed uninhabited for years.
If he remembered correctly, a building like this had appeared in the original manga—it was the location where Hidan and Kakuzu captured Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki.
But what struck Uchiha Ci as ironic was that Hidan and Kakuzu had seemingly become his allies, while Yugito Nii had already died at his hands. In a way, he had stolen their job a full decade ahead of schedule.
Thinking about it like that, he almost felt like the villain here.
"This was supposed to be a public housing project," Minato explained. "These kinds of apartment blocks exist in the Land of Fire too, but for some reason, they were abandoned here in the Land of Lightning."
"There aren't many people around, so I've been using this place lately."
Minato shook his head, pushed open the creaky wooden door, and stepped into the eerie building. From his ninja pouch, he pulled out a flint firestarter, struck it, and held it up for light.
Uchiha Ci followed, curiosity stirring in his mind.
"What exactly have you been doing here?"
"And back in the inner city, you said Danzo approached you. What did he want?"
Officially, Shimura Danzo was still Uchiha Ci's superior. He was useless at most things, but when it came to stirring up chaos in the ninja world, his expertise was undeniable.
But the idea of Danzo forming an alliance with the ever-virtuous "Yellow Flash" was… bizarre.
Minato's bright blue eyes darkened slightly. He forced a weak smile but didn't immediately answer. Instead, he led Uchiha Ci into a room, ran his fingers along the wall, and—
Click!
A bright white light illuminated the room.
At the center was a large map covered in meticulous annotations, marked with elegant handwriting and intersecting lines of unknown significance. The Land of Lightning's borders were highlighted.
On both sides of the room were worn-out tables and chairs, with stacks of opened letters scattered on them.
Uchiha Ci raised an eyebrow at the map—it was extremely detailed, even outlining mountain ranges and small towns along the way.
If only I had something like this before. It would've saved me so much trouble wandering around the Land of Frost with those two lost idiots.
Just as he was about to ask if he could get a copy of the map, Minato turned to face him with a solemn expression.
"Listen, Ci."
"You asked how Konoha's plans relate to the upcoming Five Kage Summit."
"Well, I'm about to tell you."
Minato's voice was firm.
"We—Danzo and I—have reached a consensus."
"A decision and an operation that directly defies the Third Hokage's will."
Uchiha Ci's eyes widened slightly, startled.
Danzo opposing Hiruzen's opinions and making independent decisions? That was completely normal. Uchiha Ci wouldn't be surprised in the slightest.
But for Danzo to persuade the ever-righteous Namikaze Minato to join him in rebellion? Now that was suspicious.
Rather than asking what Danzo planned to do, Uchiha Ci focused on something else.
"You said 'we'… besides you, who else?"
Danzo must have approached Minato knowing about his close relationship with Uchiha Ci. That was likely his leverage to convince him.
But aside from Minato, who else was involved?
A sense of unease crept into Uchiha Ci's mind. If there was someone else, they were probably closely connected to him.
"It's Uchiha Fugaku, the Police Force Captain."
Minato took a deep breath, his gaze serious.
"We intend to commit an act of treason."
"In six days, the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning, along with the Third Raikage, will appear at the Five Kage Summit."
"And we will strike there."
"We are going to assassinate the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning."
Minato exhaled heavily and declared with unwavering determination:
"I will be the one to carry out this plan and bear the full consequences."
Hearing this, seeing Minato's solemn, martyr-like expression, Uchiha Ci felt his scalp tingle.
"What?! You're going to assassinate the Daimyō too?!"
"That's right," Minato said firmly.
"If there's anyone in this world who can assassinate a Daimyō right under the Third Raikage's nose…"
"It can only be someone who has mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique—me!"
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